MACARONI AND CHEESE AND HAMBURGER CASSEROLE RECIPES

Steps:

• I use a 2 1/2 quart covered casserole dish for this. This will stick unless you have a great non-stick baking dish - I never grease the pan though because of all the fat that's already in this.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Brown hamburger and onion.
• Place a layer of sliced potatoes in casserole dish, top with half of hamburger/onion mixture. Salt and pepper to taste (kind of depends on how salty your cheese sauce is - you can always salt it later if it needs it).
• Repeat layering of potato slices and hamburger mixture (and salt and pepper if desired).
• Make Cheese sauce:.
• Melt 3 T butter in saucepan over med-high heat.
• Add 3 T flour, and the salt and pepper. Stir quickly to blend.
• Add 2 cups milk; stir with whisk to incorporate butter/flour mixture.
• Reduce heat, stir till thickened and bubbly.
• Remove from heat and add shredded cheddar. Stir until cheese melts.
• Pour cheese sauce over hamburger and potatoes in baking dish. Push potatoes around to let cheese sauce into all of the crevices so it's well coated.
• Cover and place in oven. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours, till potatoes are tender and top is browned. I like to take off the lid for the last 20 minutes or so to brown the top a bit.
• Even with the leanest ground beef, this can get little pools of grease on top - I just spoon these off. It doesn't mean the whole thing is greasy - just cheesy.
• My family members consider generous amounts of ketchup a necessary addition to this dish. I like it fine by itself (ok, maybe a spot of ketchup on the side).

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cook noodles according to package directions. , Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook beef until no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in tomato sauce, sugar, salt and pepper; heat through. Drain noodles; stir into beef mixture., In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, ricotta cheese and sour cream until blended. Stir in half of the onions., Spoon half the noodle mixture into a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with cheese mixture and remaining noodle mixture., Cover and bake 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake until heated through and cheese is melted, 5-10 minutes longer. Sprinkle with remaining onions.